Abbas’s snubs work like a charm on Biden
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Abbas’s snubs work like a charm on Biden
The Palestinian Authority leader refused a phone call by the U.S. secretary of state on the grounds that it wasn’t “president to president.”
(April 6, 2021 / JNS) Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas may be facing serious challenges to his reign in Ramallah, but he’s having no trouble playing the powers-that-be in Washington. After four years of being called to task by the administration of former President Donald Trump, Abu Mazen (as he is familiarly known in the Middle East) is once again enjoying the upper hand.
An incident that took place a few weeks ago is illustrative.
In mid-February, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken personally phoned Abbas, undoubtedly to discuss all the goodies that the PA could anticipate from Biden & Co, and perhaps to wish him well in the upcoming elections. But rather than bask in the attention that he was receiving from America’s top diplomat, Abbas refused to take the call.
Yes, the head of the tiny terrorism-supporting entity was deeply offended that someone of Blinken’s “inferior” stature was on the line. Abbas, after all, had demanded that Biden himself initiate the conversation, “president to president.”
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The parties said in the joint statement that they had agreed to establish an organizing committee and a tribunal that would deal with transparency and fairness of the elections. The tribunal is to consist of judges appointed by consensus in the near future, and it will have the authority to oversee the election and confirm the results. Security for the elections will be the responsibility of the Palestinian police, which, like other Palestinian security agencies, will not be permitted to interfere in the elections or campaigns.
The parties agreed to allow all the candidates full freedom of expression, in an attempt to set aside the rifts in Palestinian society. It has also been agreed to ensure representation to women, prisoners and residents of refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza. Refugees in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan will not take part in the elections. Members of Islamic Jihad announced that they will not run in the
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